I haven't written a garden journal in ages - I think because when I'm home and not at work I just don't feel like being on the computer, and my elbow hurts so I'm trying to rest it as much as possible. And I'm so present in the garden I often don't have my phone to take photos. This morning I knew I was working so did a whiz around to be prepared to do a post whilst at work, bored, so here we go!
First of all, I'm already running out of space, particularly to grow vegetables. The lower half of the garden doesn't get enough sun, and I'm yet to convince Jamie to add more beds and pots, though I'll do it in the end. It's a little frustrating and I'm also trying to figure out what the possum will do and keeping bloody white cabbage moths off my swedes, radishes and brassicas. I'm picking tens every day and throwing them to the chooks. Looking at this aerial view you can see the garlic both in the raised beds and in the ground (not enough unfortunately), broad beans, swedes, peas, fennel, red onion and leeks, and radishes.
In the raised beds, I'm using the wilder method where you just tuck everything in and not really in rows to confuse insects. It's working, and I tend to pull out what's spent and tuck other things in there, including flowers like nastursium and marigolds.
The mandarin and curry plant in the pots are doing well, and in the background, sage, borage, comfrey and dill are all finding their feed. That soil is pretty sandy so I've been replenishing it with seaweed, compost and coffee grounds.
Although we've had a spate of warm weather, the nashi knows winter is coming and is at last shedding leaves, though the apples beyond are yet to give up the goods.
Most citrus are doing fine, the washington navel and tahitian lime, which is good. I'm yet to plant a nectarine, a grape and one more apple, but that's all I will have room for I think. THe cherry lost it's leaves early and I'm not convinced it isn't dead. I'm not even sure I want it in that space so don't really mind. They can be straggly things though you can't beat a cherry blossom!
Sorry about the wierd order of these images and plants, but work can't deal with uploads so I have to upload them all on my phone first and it's too hard to rearrange them and there's only so much time I'm prepared to spend on a post no one will read!
I bought a fan aloe the other day - I really like them as larger cactus but they take ages to grow. For now they are in these cute little pots on the deck. I do love the architectural shape of them and they don't need to be watered so much.
The lavender is still small but I got a smaller variety since I have a small space! They're such good water wise plants and great for bees.
I've staggered the beetroot and have them coming up in various stages. I do eat the leaves as well as the root, and love them roast. These are golden beets which will also be cute pickled.
Broccoli is coming up. I have also picked so many cabbage white caterpillars on them. A pity they're inedible! I thought I'd planted purple sprouting as I appreciate the cut and come again. Never mind.
Kohlrabi is doing well. I love the stuff and need to plant more. Grated, in salad, roast - yum. I might try it pickled this year too. There's coriander coming up everywhere, self seeding lettuce, kale.
I am frustrated at my meyer lemon. I have no idea what's going on. Is it the soil? Lack of sun? I thought it'd do great there so it's disappointing, especially when other citrus are doing well. Note the borage coming up, great for the compost and bees and the blue flowers in salads.
I only plant broad beens for the soil - Jamie doesn't eat them, and there's only so many I can eat. I don't think I'll both with the crimson flowered ones again - they have a purple seed too - they are quite small varieties and not very vigourous. Still, they'll fix some nitrogen in that part of the garden.
With Love,
 | Hi, my name is @riverflows and I help facilitate the Hive Gardeners group here on the Hive blockchain. You can find us here. I live in a warm temperate climate near the coast in Australia. I really love growing our own food and medicinal herbs, native plants, and creating good soil for resilient plants. |
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Every now and then I feel like I should call myself "nobody" or "no one" on whatever site I sign up on but I have had this nym for almost my entire online life and also I suspect a lot (possibly most?) people would associate a nym such as "nobody" with some sadphisher rather than suggesting that the person is the no one that is reading/listening XD
Posting on a phone is a right pain, I have some admiration for people who prefer using their phones for everything rather than being stuck doing it because that might be the only device they have or somesuch. Sounds like an excuse to get a tablet? ^_^;
Though I'm not sure what you were apologising for with the order of plants and photos though I am a bit tired so it's entirely possible I completely misread everything and whatever I'm understanding out of this is completely wrong XD
I love your opening photo, the different ground colours make a cool design :)
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I have no idea what's going on 🤣🤣🤣 With the elbow tendonitis I can barely write. I've taken to dictating.
Oof that's rough x_x but at least you can dictate, yay for tech! XD
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What do you mean 'no one will read'? Oh you of little faith. I read every word, even the misspelt ones!:)
Misspelt words?! Horrors! And wierd for @riverflows. I read every word too.
I know. I was shocked. When I said 'words' I meant 'word'. I was trying to trigger River but she didn't rise to my bait.
Me too!
That makes two of us 😁
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really enjoyed the way you captured the progress and the little details; it makes the whole journey feel very real and relatable.
Thanks a lot and thanks for sharing your own garden
It's always amazing to me that you are in winter and have so much growing. I hope the Meyer lemon turns around and does well.
I wish I knew what it was
Just got the pH tester in the mail @markone85
pH might help, but leaf testing would tell you exactly..
Leaf testing???
https://advancingecoag.com/plant-sap-analysis/
Hm ok well unless I can do it myself...
There are those of us who read the posts :)
I don't sow kohlrabi, because I don't know how to deal with the white plant lice that attack it, otherwise I love kohlrabi. As for the Ph tester, if anyone has one. When you move the button all the way to the left, it tests fertility, the lowest scale. When it's in the middle, it measures soil moisture, which is the lowest scale. And when the button is all the way to the right, it measures pH, the middle scale
Very good. I've never had those lice!!! From what I read it's best to cover them to stop them laying eggs in the first place which isn't always practical..
https://advancingecoag.com/article/fertility-market-gardens/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=4xo_Gpwxl3Rdw5WzTZLF8WyTHczs7VLbSrqOlt90_ok.WdjHWJ
"Certain patterns appear repeatedly in intensive production systems:
* Phosphorus creeps ever upward from repeated compost and manure applications * Potassium levels get high enough to interfere with calcium uptake * Nitrogen becomes abundant and pairs with chronically low calcium * Organic matter gets so high that nitrogen mineralizes faster than crops can use itThese conditions are closely tied to insect and disease pressure. Calcium is central to cell wall integrity and overall plant resilience. When nitrogen outpaces calcium, growth may look vigorous, but tissues remain soft and vulnerable to infection."
"Many growers don’t realize that excess fertility can be as big a problem as a lack of fertility.
Very spooky
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That lavender is hilarious
I look forward to learning more about how you handle growing in a small space. I love that wilder idea, to confuse the bugs. Gonna have to try that.
It's a thing apparently. It hasn't working for those bloody cabbage whites!!! Working on Jamie to help him see a few more beds are needed.. wish me luck 🤣
I always read. I don't always have a decent comment to make, but I read your posts and enjoy them. It's always a delight to see you in my morning Feed. 🙂
Oh @thekittygirl that means the world. I do appreciate you xx
I understand you don't have the time to make garden journals with this many crops and plants. And you even want to expand 😂
It's looking good!
Ha I'm mainly spending all my time chasing caterpillars and moths grrrrr
Hahaha yes!
Beautiful
I realized that the earth in the bakery is really bad. Nothing really seems to grow. So, I'm working on the compost there. At least some fiber for the ground, for moisture retention. Right now, it's very sandy and dries out very quickly. Most plants do not like that, especially in the extreme spans between too much rain and no rain that we're currently having.
Glad to see that you garden is thriving! and if you run out of space... Maybe Jamie wants to build a second floor for the garden? Or vertical gardens? He must be bored by now... :-P